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Mark McMorris wins Burton US Open to cap amazing recovery

Mark McMorris airs the second jump during Slopestyle Finals at the US Open of Snowboarding in Vail Colorado, USA on March 9th 2018. –Photographer Credit:Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool

Canadian edges out rival Kleveland in slopestyle as Gasser claims podium.

Mark McMorris has capped an amazing recovery from a near-fatal accident to win the 2018 Burton US Open slopestyle crown as Anna Gasser settled for second after the women’s final was cancelled due to high winds.

– Canadian McMorris fell on his first two runs, but unleashed a frontside triple cork 1440 and backside triple cork 1440 to seal back-to-back titles.

– The 24-year-old had a near-fatal accident in March 2017 where he needed two surgeries after he suffered a fractured jaw, fractured left arm, ruptured spleen, pelvic fracture, rib fractures and collapsed left lung.

– The Regina native returned to pick up slopestyle bronze medals at this year’s PyeongChang Winter Games and Winter X Games in Aspen.

– McMorris declared, “All the work is definitely paying off. There’s so many people I want to thank for helping me get back to being able to do this.”

– 2018 Winter X Games slopestyle champion Marcus Kleveland of Norway had to settle for third this time behind McMorris and American Chris Corning.

– Austrian Gasser, who has won Big Air gold in PyeongChang and Aspen this year, lost out to American Jamie Anderson based on their qualifying scores.

Mark McMorris airs the final jump of the course during his winning run at Slopestyle Finals at the US Open of Snowboarding in Vail Colorado, USA on March 9th 2018. –Photographer Credit:Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content PoolMark McMorris stands at the top of the podium with Chris Corning finishing second and Marcus Kleveland in third following Slopestyle Finals at the US Open of Snowboarding in Vail Colorado, USA on March 9th 2018. –Photographer Credit:Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool

Mark McMorris poses for a photo following Slopestyle Finals at the US Open of Snowboarding in Vail Colorado, USA on March 9th 2018. –Photographer Credit:Aaron Blatt / Red Bull Content Pool